Thursday, December 23, 2010

Over the next few days the Number One question most of us will be asked is, "What did you get?"

While the Christmas season is rooted in the Christian faith, a faith that teaches benevolent and charitable giving, the Buddha, too, offered a succinct lesson in giving and getting.

When we give to others, we give without expectation of reward. We give without attachment to either the gift or the recipient. The practice of giving is thought to be one of the most basic human virtues, a testament to the depth of our humanity, and for Buddhists, one's capacity for self-transcendence.

So as we move gently out of the fray of holiday shopping and into the peace of Christmas, keep in mind that it is not about what you get, it is about what you give.

Have a joyful Christmas everyone. And remember to live a flourishing life.
Ritawww.ritaschiano.com

To learn more about how you can live a flourishing life, please visit my web site, www.liveaflourishinglife.com.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Odds are most people will gain weight during the holiday season. In fact, it's been reported that many people will gain 6 - 13 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Holidays parties, get-togethers with friends and family, often leads to over-indulging, making "Start a diet" the number one entry on most folks New Year's Resolution List.

We don't like to think about limitations and diets during the holidays. It puts us into a deprivation frame of mind. And let's be honest....the holidays are more about indulgence than denial.

Rather than going whole hog or wallowing in restriction (and beating yourself up when you fail to limit your intake), just be mindful. Think about what you are eating and savor the moment, savor each bite. Place rather than pop those goodies into your mouth, let your taste buds take over.

We tend to over eat when we eat mindlessly. So eat whatever you want this holiday season. Do so mindfully....and you'll beat the weight gain odds.

Have a joyful holiday everyone. And remember to live a flourishing life.
Ritawww.ritaschiano.com

To learn more about how you can live a flourishing life, please visit my web site, www.liveaflourishinglife.com.

Friday, December 17, 2010

An empowering, constructive attitude that creates conditions
for success by focusing and acting on possibilities and opportunities.
~ Max More

The number one factor influencing resilience is a positive or optimistic view of yourself and confidence in your strengths and abilities. I want to be clear. When I talk of optimism I do not mean that rose-colored glasses, Pollyannaish way of looking at the world. Optimists see tragedy just fine. Optimists know bad things happen. But what separates optimists from their pessimistic brothers and sisters is how they move forward in their thinking and actions relative to those events.

Much of the way we view the world has been shaped by the messages we received as children. (Habits that serve us; habits that don’t serve us. – Aristotle) So, let me ask: Do you view yourself as an optimist or a pessimist? Your comments are most appreciated!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

It is not surprising that modern day life is often referred to as the "culture of distraction." We are bombarded with information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And yet, most of us cannot get enough. We channel surf, search the Web, talk and text, drive and text, drive and talk, drive and talk and text. It is no wonder we are driven to distraction!

Not only are we less focused, we are not present-moment oriented. And in our efforts to skim through volumes of information, we truly miss out on quite a bit by paying only partial attention.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

"Never cease trying to be the best that you can be. That's under your control. If you get too engrossed and involved and concerned in regard to the things in which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you have control." - From John Wooden on True Success (View video)

The frustration or anger that can well inside us from situations that are not only out of our control, but have nothing to do with us, chips away at our peace of mind and releases stress hormones which, left unattended, can lead to health-related problems.

The capacity to manage strong feeling, emotions, and impulses involves being able to:

take action without being impulsive and responding out of emotion

put emotions to the side when clear thinking and action are required

use thinking as a way of managing one’s emotions

When we allow ourselves to get worked up, particularly over the small stuff, we are needlessly causing our bodies to go into fight-or-flight mode.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Elizabeth Edwards wrote, "I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces: ­ my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined."

Ms. Edwards resilience didn't simply ignite with her cancer diagnosis. She faced numerous trials and tribulations during her life -- the death of her son Wade, the harsh scrutiny of the political spotlight, a deceptive spouse -- and did so with strength, courage, and admirable grace. Her Facebook postings the past few weeks shed insight into her resilient spirit.

"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered," she wrote. "We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Kaizen is a Japanese management concept for incremental (gradual, continuous) change (improvement); breaking tasks into small, manageable steps. Kaizen is also a way of life philosophy based on making little changes on a regular basis. Kaizen is about finding new, creative, and effective ways to improve one’s life…from tackling the mundane to managing our stress, to attaining our life vision.

Human flourishing involves the rational use of one’s individual human potentialities, including talents, abilities, and virtues in the pursuit of his freely and rationally chosen values and goals.
~ Edward W. Younkins

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Psychological research finds that people's happiness levels are remarkably stable over the long-term. A possible explanation comes from studies in the psychology of gratitude. Yes, you read that correctly — being thankful just may be the secret to happiness.

The study* cited that people who were in the gratitude condition felt fully 25% happier — they were more optimistic about the future, they felt better about their lives.

The words "gratitude" and "grace" share a common Latin origin — gratus, meaning "pleasing" or "thankful." When you are in a deep state of gratitude, you may feel the presence of grace. Reflect on this. As we become more mindful of the present moment, we begin to recognize the things around us that we may have taken for granted.

Learning to practice gratitude is one of life's most valuable lessons. As Aristotle taught us, all virtues have value and the virtue of gratitude helps to increase feelings of satisfaction with our lives and keeps us from falling into the excess of a greedy or entitled frame of mind.**

There are many simple, yet powerful ways to practice gratitude on a daily basis.

Thank, separately, both the cashier and the bagger at the grocery store.

Send a hand-written thank you note when you receive a gift, however small.

Make "thank you" a common phrase in your vocabulary.

Keep a gratitude journal. Each night write 1-3 things for which you were grateful during the day.

Have a joyful Thanksgiving everyone. And remember to live a gracious and flourishing life.
Ritawww.ritaschiano.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Conflict is a critical event in the course of a relationship. Conflict can cause resentment, hostility, and perhaps the ending of that relationship. However, conflict can be productive and lead to deeper understanding, mutual respect, and closeness.

Do you shy away from conflict? Which of the following statements may reflect your approach to conflict?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Resilient people have a penchant for learning. They have the ability to reflect upon and recognize objectively their strengths and weaknesses. This self-reflection helps them gain insight into their current circumstances, opening them to new ideas and new tactics for dealing with crises.

Resilient people have the ability to look at critical situations in a new way, finding creative approaches towards solving a problem. They recognize that life is a series of good times and not so good times, and that you need the bad to appreciate the good. Hard times build character, creating positive lessons that better equip us to cope in the future.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Since 2006, the American Psychological Association has commissioned an annual nationwide survey as part of its Mind/Body Health campaign to examine and understand the impact of stress on Americans. The results of the Stress in America survey draws attention to the serious physical and emotional implications of stress.

Yesterday (11/9/10), the APA released its findings, cautioning "stress may become a public health crisis." The survey is an indicator about the long-term impact that chronic stress may have on Americans' physical and emotional health. Psychologist Norman B. Anderson, PhD, the APA’s chief executive officer and executive vice president stated, "America is at a critical crossroads when it comes to stress and our health."

His statement is not a broad stroke. Since 2006, nearly 75% of Americans say they experience stress at levels that "exceed what they define as healthy." Stress is related to numerous chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and depression, and is a contributing factor to many leading causes of death.

"People are also saying they have difficulty implementing the changes they know will decrease their stress and improve their health," Anderson said. "Yet, our health care system is not adequately addressing this issue or providing the behavioral health treatments that can help Americans. All of us, including the medical community, need to take stress seriously since stress could easily become our next public health crisis."

To learn more about how you can decrease stress in your life, please visit my web site, www.liveaflourishinglife.com.

Monday, November 8, 2010

It is the very nature of life to strive to continue in being. Since this continuance can be secured only by constant renewals, life is a self-renewing process.
~ John Dewey

The ability to bounce back

How quickly we bounce back from crises and tragedy is dependent on how resilient we are. Sometimes, however, our lack of understanding about our life experiences — or habits that don’t serve us — keeps us from adapting when new stresses affect us. As we reflect upon and come to terms with our personal history, and take steps to adjust the undermining attitudes and habits, the greater will be our ability to bounce back quickly.

Friday, November 5, 2010

I must get an e-mail similar to the one below at least 4 times a week. Seriously, now...who falls for this stuff? Obviously many people do if thousands of cretins continuously spam this crap.

Oh, and by the way...

You did not overpay the IRS $186.30

Neither Steve Jobs nor Bill Gates is going to send you a check for $100 for passing on an e-mail

Your friend or relative most likely did not get robbed in London and does not need an emergency loan of $1,000 wired to the account included in the e-mail

You did not win the Irish Sweepstakes

Enjoy your day...and remember the adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't.Ritawww.ritaschano.com

Hello my dear,I wish to contact you personally for a business transaction/Investment proposal of GBP£10,000,00 (Ten Million British Pounds Sterling) hopefully that you will respondpositively to this investment proposal.I need a reliable, honest and capable person who will be able to handle this transaction. hence I am contacting you, and I believe that you will never turn down my request. I am the chief executive of cooperate,Halifax Bank of Scotland, United Kingdom.With your sincere assistant and co-operation, we can finalize this transaction, and be rest assured that this deal is worth taking and highly profitable. At this moment, I will not issue the details of this transaction until your positive response is granted.For further correspondence regarding this business proposal, send yourresponse to E-mail :(mr.petercumming10001@gmail.com) for more details orring me on E-mail for further discussion on this.

Monday, November 1, 2010

To successfully develop and implement a stress management and resilience-building plan, one must be committed to the change process. Change is not easy; old habits die hard. Change is especially hard when a behavior or attitude is longstanding, or involves an addictive substance. (Just ask anyone attempting to quit smoking.) And change is stressful.

Do you want to live a better life − a life where stress is reduced and managed; a life replete with loving friendships; a life guided by optimism and courage? In other words, a life that flourishes?

To live a flourishing life™ is to live an examined life. To do so, you begin by exploring, recognizing, and understanding the habits and attitudes that serve you, and those that do not serve you. And then, step-by-step, you make a determined effort to change those attitudes and behaviors by developing a doable action plan.

My workshops and private coaching sessions offer insight and assistance, enabling you to work through the obstacles that stand in your way, and guide you towards actionable, positive changes that will affect all areas of your life.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The key to stress management is being able to recognize your body’s response to emotional conditions and then to take steps to minimize or alleviate the stress triggers.

A good tool is to keep a stress-awareness journal. This will help you recognize where your body stores tension. The more aware you become of your body’s reaction to stress, the better you will be able to take steps to reduce the stress and metabolize the harmful buildup of stress hormones in your body.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Live A Flourishing Lifeis the result of melding my three professions -- adjunct Philosophy professor, stress management and resilience-building trainer, and writer.

In June, Bay Path College (where I teach Philosophy) tapped me to teach a Stress Management course in their One-Day-A-Week Saturday Program. Since this was the first offering of the course, I was literally writing the workbook as we went along.

However... I did not want the book to be solely a classroom text. And so I createdLive A Flourishing Lifefor anyone to use on one's own, or together with private coaching sessions, or workshop/lecture. The book includes a progressive relaxation and mindful breathing techniques CD Relax and Flourish. (Order your copy here.)

What qualified me to write this book and offer these programs?

Since 2008, I have been working as a stress management trainer for WorkTerrain, presenting programs throughout the Commonwealth to organizations and municipalities via Dept. of Industrial Accidents grants. (To learn more about WorkTerrain's Safety Programs go tohttp://www.workterrain.com/at_work/programs/safety_training/.)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

I am thrilled to be participating again in the CreateAthon, a 24-hour blitz on Thursday–Friday, September 23rd & 24th, aat Smith & Jones.

This year’s CreateAthon clients include: Dunbar Community Center, People First Food Pantry, Special Education Surrogate Parent Program, Rainbow Child Development Center, The Bridge of Central MA, Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Males Advocating Change, Music Worcester and Central MA South Chamber of Commerce.

About CreateAthon: CreateAthon is a 24-hour creative blitz in the name of charity — Smith & Jones is one of the select few New England agencies to participate in this annual event, offering their marketing and creative services to local non-profit agencies.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I usually tend to stay out of the political fray on this blog, but this one I can't pass up...

Regarding the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), Marine General James Amos told the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, "I'm concerned that a change now will serve as a distraction to Marines who are tightly focused at this point on combat operations in Afghanistan."

Does he really think that these remarkable, brave men and women who serve our country, who face gunfire, IEDs, airstrikes, and Lord knows how much more horror on a daily basis can actually be knocked off kilter -- thereby negatively impact troop morale, unit cohesion, and order -- all because a fellow soldier could live truthfully by openly acknowledging he or she is gay?

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Conflict is a critical event in the course of a relationship. Conflict can cause resentment, hostility, and perhaps the ending of that relationship. However, conflict can be productive and lead to deeper understanding, mutual respect, and closeness.

Do you shy away from conflict? Which of the following statements may reflect your approach to conflict?

• My underlying anger may get out of control.• To me, conflict is an all-or-nothing situation.• I find it difficult to face conflict because I feel inadequate.• I have difficulty positively asserting my views and feelings.

Friday, September 10, 2010

On September 1, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. In his proclamation, President Obama stated, “One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a Nation is to safeguard the health and well-being of our children. We now face a national childhood obesity crisis, with nearly one in every three of America's children being overweight or obese.”

That statistic is staggering. Childhood obesity has been a growing problem for decades, afflicting children nationwide with certain racial, ethnic, and regional kids more severely affected. And research has shown that obesity can be influenced by environmental and behavioral factors, such as unhealthy eating and too little physical activity. (To learn more about the effects of nutrition on behavior, see our webinar, Nutrition and Behavior Problems in Children and Adolescents presented by Dr. James M. Greenblatt, M.D.)

Earlier this year, the First Lady Michelle Obama announced the "Let's Move!" initiative to combat childhood obesity. The President, too, created a Task Force on Childhood Obesity to, as he stated, “marshal the combined resources of the Federal Government to develop inter-agency solutions and make recommendations on how to respond to this crisis.” The Task Force produced a report containing a comprehensive set of recommendations that “will put our country on track for solving this pressing health issue and preventing it from threatening future generations.”

During his statement, President Obama added that the “report outlines broad strategies to address childhood obesity, including providing healthier food in schools, ensuring access to healthy affordable food, increasing opportunities for physical activity, empowering parents and caregivers with better information about making healthy choices, and giving children a healthy start in life.”

The web site, LetsMove.gov offers detail information about these recommendations and as well as information and resources on how to help children eat healthy and stay active.

“Our history,” said the President, “shows that when we are united in our convictions, we can safeguard the health and safety of America's children for generations to come…. When we work together, we can overcome any obstacle and protect our Nation's most precious resource -- our children. As we take steps to turn around the epidemic of childhood obesity, I am confident that we will solve this problem together, and that we will solve it in a generation…. I encourage all Americans to take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all of our Nation's children.”

Thursday, September 9, 2010

I believe freedom of speech and freedom of expression are fundamental and sacred rights.

In
"On Liberty" John Stuart Mill wrote "...there ought to exist the
fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical
conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it may be considered."
However, Mill also introduced a concept that became known as the harm
principle: "...the only purpose for which power can be rightfully
exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is
to prevent harm to others." In essence, the basis of the harm principle
is making good, moral choices.

His
plan to hold "Burn-A Koran Day on Saturday, September 11 defies clearly
moral judgment and the harm principle. Jones and his band of misguided
followers actions will be detrimental to the safety of our troops, to
our citizens, to people around the globe. Recall the international
outrage those Danish comic strips caused a few years back.

Those
who wish to protest Pastor Terry Jones' horrific Burn-A-Koran Day should
come to the event armed, not with guns or hatred in their hearts, but
with fire extinguishers.

Heck, let's go one step further and hold
"Put Out The Fire" rallies across the nation.... Organize a rally in
your community...organize a march of folks armed only with fire
extinguishers and peace in their hearts.

My publishing company has widened its focus. Along with book publishing, Reed Edwards isnow distributing select authors' books and related products and we areexpanding our editorial and publishing services.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Friendship is an art, and very few persons are born with a natural gift for it. ~ Kathleen Norris

My grandmother used to tell me that if I had one true friend in life, that was the ultimate blessing. My life, then, is truly blessed for I have several wonderful friends.

Aristotle wrote there are three kinds of friendship....

1. Friendship based on utility. This type of friendship changes according to circumstances. With the disappearance of the "usefulness" of this friendship, the friendship breaks up.

2. Friendship based on pleasure. These friendship are regulated by feelings, and the chief interest is in momentary pleasure. As affection changes, so does the friendship.

3. Perfect friendship is based on goodness and mutual knowledge and respect. These friends spend time with each other, contribute to the other's happiness and vice versa. Friendship of this kind is permanent.

The Roman philosopher Cicero believed that in order to have a true friendship with someone one must have complete honesty, virtue, and trust...and friends do things for each other without expectation of repayment.

Ask yourself, who is that one friend in your life who meets Cicero's standards? How much love do you carry in your heart for that person?

Now ask yourself, when was the last time you spent quality time with this friend? When is the last time yo spoke, rather than texted, IM, or communicated through social media?

If the answer is less than 3 days, pick up the phone. Call your friend. Hear his or her voice...and make a solid date to see one another within the next 10 days.

"There was a definite process by which one made people into friends, and it involved talking to them and listening to them for hours at a time." ~ Rebecca West

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Earlier this year, Food Network’s chef Jamie Oliver launched a televised food revolution about saving America’s health by changing the way you eat. Oliver stresses that parents must find out what their child is eating at school, and urge schools to switch from processed to fresh food.

Alarmed by the rising obesity rates and the amount of junk food being served to kids at school in his native Great Britain, Oliver met with then-prime minister Tony Blair back in 2005. He issued a challenge: Fix the dismal state of hot lunches. The School Food Trust was born, with its motto, “Eat better. Do better.” By 2008, the British government initiative swapped fried fare for wholesome vegetables, and began providing ongoing training to school kitchen staffs, slowly transforming how British kids eat.

Oliver saw parallels to the United States, with its epidemic of childhood obesity, “the increase of Type 2 diabetes being diagnosed among young adults and even children, and the vending-machine mentality of many school lunchrooms in this country. What we eat affects everything: our mood, behavior, health, growth, even our ability to concentrate,” said Oliver. “A lunchtime school meal should provide a growing child with one-third their daily nutritional intake.”

To drive the point home, this year at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, findings were presented comparing school lunch vs. lunch from home. The results were eye-opening. Compared with kids who brought lunch from home, those who ate school lunches:

* Were more likely to be overweight or obese (38.2% vs. 24.7%) * Were more likely to eat two or more servings of fatty meats like fried chicken or hot dogs daily (6.2% vs. 1.6%) * Were more likely to have two or more sugary drinks a day (19% vs. 6.8%) * Were less likely to eat at least two servings of fruits a day (32.6% vs. 49.4%) * Were less likely to eat at least two servings of vegetables a day (39.9% vs. 50.3%) * Had higher levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol

New research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds that children who eat school lunches that are part of the federal government’s National School Lunch Program are more likely to become overweight.

Now, the USDA is partnering with First Lady Michelle Obama to fight this childhood obesity epidemic among America’s school children. The First Lady released the results and recommendations of The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity report, which stated that more than 30 percent of American children, ages 2 to 19, are overweight or obese. The report recommends serving healthier foods in schools.

The National Student Lunch Program supplies meals to about 30 million children in 100,000 public and nonprofit private schools, according to the USDA.

The fact that federally funded school lunches contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic is disconcerting, although not altogether surprising,” said Daniel L. Millimet, whose research expertise is the economics of children, specifically topics related to schooling and health.

Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN, best-selling author of Joy Bauer’s Food Cures: Treat Common Health Concerns, Look Younger and Live Longer, agrees. “Without a doubt, balanced nutrition is key for kids to maintain concentration academically. Every school lunch should offer both complex carbohydrates and lean proteins-a turkey-breast sandwich on whole wheat bread is a simple and perfect example of this — to boost brain and staying power, level moods, and keep blood sugars on an even keel. In other words, a plain bagel, with nothing else, can produce volatile spikes in blood sugars and can set up kids for a crash.”

Monday, August 30, 2010

Do you want to live a better life − a life where stress is reduced and managed; a life replete with loving friendships; a life guided by optimism and courage? In other words, a life that flourishes?

To live a flourishing life is to live an examined life. To do so, you begin by exploring, recognizing, and understanding the habits and attitudes that serve you, and those that do not serve you. And then, step-by-step, you make a determined effort to change those attitudes and behaviors by developing a doable action plan.

My workshops and private coaching sessions offer insight and assistance, enabling you to work through the obstacles that stand in your way, and guide you towards actionable, positive changes that will affect all areas of your life.

To learn more about Live A Flourishing Life workshops and private coaching, contact me directly via e-mail at rita@ritaschiano.com or visit www.reededwards.com and click on Workshops/Coaching.

Friday, August 27, 2010

It is not surprising that modern day life is often referred to as the “culture of distraction.” We are bombarded with information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And yet, most of us cannot get enough. We channel surf, search the Web, talk and text, drive and text, drive and talk, drive and talk and text. It is no wonder we are driven to distraction!

Not only are we less focused, we are not present-moment oriented. And in our efforts to skim through volumes of information, we truly miss out on quite a bit by paying only partial attention.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The key to stress management is being able to recognize your body’s response to emotional conditions and then to take steps to minimize or alleviate the stress triggers.

A good tool is to keep a stress-awareness journal. This will help you recognize where your body stores tension. The more aware you become of your body’s reaction to stress, the better you will be able to take steps to reduce the stress and metabolize the harmful buildup of stress hormones in your body.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Kaizen is a Japanese management concept for incremental (gradual, continuous) change (improvement); breaking tasks into small, manageable steps. Kaizen is also a way of life philosophy based on making little changes on a regular basis. Kaizen is about finding new, creative, and effective ways to improve one’s life…from tackling the mundane to managing our stress, to attaining our life vision.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Human flourishing involves the rational use of one’s individual human potentialities, including talents, abilities, and virtues in the pursuit of his freely and rationally chosen values and goals.~ Edward W. Younkins

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I've a new book coming out next month... Live A Flourishing Lifeis the result of melding my three professions -- adjunct Philosophy professor, stress management and resilience-building trainer, and writer.

In June, Bay Path College (where I teach Philosophy) tapped me to teach a Stress Management course in their One-Day-A-Week Saturday Program. Since this was the first offering of the course, I was literally writing the workbook as we went along.

Since 2008, I have been working as a stress management trainer for WorkTerrain, presenting programs throughout the Commonwealth to organizations and municipalities via Dept. of Industrial Accidents grants. (To learn more about WorkTerrain's Safety Programs go tohttp://www.workterrain.com/at_work/programs/safety_training/.)

And for the past six years, I have been working with Dr. Ron Breazeale as he developed the "Duct Tape Isn't Enough" resilience training and coaching program, initially developed for First Responders, and now being offered nationwide. (To learn more about Resilience Coaching programs go to http://www.reachinghome.com/course.html.)

Details on the Live A Flourishing Life workshop/lecture series and coaching sessions in future blogs postings.

Monday, August 2, 2010

While we tend to think of summer foods as hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbecue chicken, parents should take these months to get their kids involved with understanding proper nutrition. A great way to do this is to teach them how to cook. Rather than rely on fast food and the above-mentioned summer staples, web sites such as Cooking With Kids and the Food Network’s Cooking For Kids are great resources for turning your picky-eaters into gourmands. And the benefits will be multifold.

In the past decade numerous studies have been conducted linking nutritional disorders with behavioral and learning problems in children. Research shows that children with iron deficiencies sufficient to cause anemia are at a disadvantage academically. Other studies suggest that iodine, iron, folate, Vitamin B12, zinc, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may play a significant role in the development of the brain and in cognitive functions.

Dietary deficiency concerns are not a worldwide problem; any child may be vulnerable to the maladies of poor nutrition due to dietary behaviors. To detail this critical issue, KidsTerrain turned to Dr. James M. Greenblatt, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, Massachusetts, to create a webinar to help parents understand the critical link between proper nutrition and behavior in children and adolescents. Nutrition and Behavior Problems in Children and Adolescents explores the link between dietary deficiencies and to compromised health, intelligence, and basic social skills.

For more information on this program or to view the webinar, go to http://www.kidsterrain.com/products/product.php?productid=18.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

When it comes to children’s Internet safety, most parents are not savvy enough. And it is not because we aren’t hip, hep, cool, phat…choose your jargon…it’s simply that new social web sites seems to appear with the blink of an eye.

What can you do to protect your child without infringing too much on his or her perceived rights? It’s as simple as A B C: Ask, Believe, then Check.

Ask your child about the social media sites they belong to. Ask how often they visit the site. Ask what personal information they post. Ask about their Internet friends.

Believe that your child is telling you the truth. Believe that your child is careful. Believe that your child knows the dangers of Internet predators. Then….

Check your child’s postings. Friend them on Facebook; follow them on Twitter; join their MySpace page. And remember due diligence: new social media sites pop up almost daily, so you must stay on top of this. http://www.wiredsafety.org is an excellent resource web site.

Most importantly, talk with your child regularly about Internet safety (without being too much of a nudge so they won’t tune you out). Points to reiterate when conversing:

Safety is first and foremost. Remind them to never post personal information such as full name, home address, phone numbers, places they go … anything that would help someone identify them or locate their whereabouts when they are not at home.

Remind them that whatever is posted is there for all the world to see….and sometimes long after it is has been deleted too.

And remind them it is never right to cyberbully. And if someone is cyberbullying them, that it is okay and safe to tell you about it.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

I blame my love of ponderisms on my philosophy education. As I said to the accreditation reviewer during my sophomore years of college: Where else can you sit around discussing whether a rock has a mind and get a college degree?

If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

And here's one from our 40th president:It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.Have a joyful day everyone. - RitaVisit my website at http://www.ritaschiano.com

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A comprehensive anti-bullying legislation is, at last, law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is now, however, up to the schools, the parents, and the kids themselves to take all the necessary steps to eliminate bullying from our schools, our streets, and cyberspace.

I’ve written numerous blogs on this topic, beginning with the 2006 suicide of Megan Meier, who hanged herself three weeks before her fourteenth birthday. It took more than a year of prodding and prompting by Meier’s parents to get an investigation into the matter. Megan’s suicide was attributed to cyber-bullying through the social networking website MySpace. Lori Drew, the mother of a classmate of Meier, was later indicted in 2008. But in 2009, Mrs. Drew was acquitted on the basis that there “are no laws making the cyber-bullying, harassment and abusive actions” of Mrs. Drew a felony.

In 2009, 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was found by his mother hanging by an extension cord on the second floor of their Springfield, MA home. The boy had been bullied and taunted daily at school, yet despite the pleases of his mother, nothing worthwhile was done to prevent this from continuing to happen to the boy.

The last straw seems to have been the suicide of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince of South Hadley, MA. Her death prompted a vociferous call for action. Four months later, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed the new legislation (one, I might add, with some teeth), includes anti-bullying initiatives in student handbooks, classroom instruction, and strict new rules for reporting incidents of bullying. The law includes:

training adults on how to identify, prevent, and manage incidents of bullying

new reporting requirements for all school staff to “fully and swiftly detail any instance of bullying or retaliation to the appropriate school official”

directs the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish statewide academic standards that include instruction in bullying prevention and requires schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on bullying prevention

Each school district is also required to provide targeted professional development to all teachers, administrators, athletic coaches, bus drivers, and custodians on the prevention, identification, and appropriate response to bullying incidents.

Will all this help? While laws will not stamp out bullying altogether (we need only look at the vast majority of laws continuously broken to know this to be true), laws can reduce drastically the number of incidences and give victims of bullying much needed protections.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

SACRAMENTO — Angered by increases in tuition and cuts in state financing, thousands of students, parents and faculty members protested across California on Thursday at colleges, universities and even elementary schools to plead for help with the state’s education crisis.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

In the wake of the massive BP oil spill, Senate Republicans are disowning the catchphrase “Drill, Baby, Drill,” claiming that Republicans never endorsed it. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) attempted to distance themselves and their party from the phrase yesterday, pretending not to know who popularized it, and dismissing the slogan as something from “two, three years ago”:

“That was not a Senate Republican phrase,” Kyl said. “I think there was a candidate that used that. I think our phrase was ‘drill here, drill now,’ meaning here in the United States and as quickly as oil and gas leases are going.”

Roberts said Republicans were always uneasy with the catchphrase.

“I don’t know about the slogan. The slogan was what, two, three years ago and basically we had a lot of opposition to it anyway.”

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Why is it that so many people say, "I'm too old to celebrate my birthday anymore." That makes no sense to me, just like having a huge birthday bash for a one-year old makes no sense to me either. It's not like anyone remembers their first birthday, or their second, third or fourth birthday for that matter. I think it makes sense to celebrate more with each passing year, particularly as we get older.

Today is my birthday....my 55th...and the official celebration began this past Saturday when my sweetie brought me coffee in bed (that's usually my loving task), and the little treats and surprises have been nonstop ever since, culminating with a get-together with friends this weekend. (Actually, the celebrating started a few weeks ago when my friend Richard treated me to the theatre.)

My loved ones understand that I embrace life, particularly now that I am walking the downside of the hill. This shift in my perspective hit home when I turned 48. Up to that year I felt I could always double my age and see the possibilities...living to be 80, 86, even 90. But 96? Not so much so...and now 110? Why would I want to?

The older I get, the more young at heart I feel. I rarely fret the missteps. I refuse to give up my dreams. I am not afraid to be silly. As George Bernard Shaw said, "Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children."

Celebrate your birthday with vigor each year. Don't let the kids have all the fun.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Several people commented on yesterday's blog entry via my Facebook page. I'd like to address one comment in particular. Ljo Aktiv wrote:

"What if there is supposed to be apologies from both parties and only one has given their apology? (Even if some people have said it is not a proper apology.) Isn't the other party who is being apologized to obligated to offer a counter apology for their part that started this whole explosive exchange of words? Just curious how this whole etiquette thing works in situations like this!"

Good question, Ljo. In The Last Lecture Pausch stated that if someone owes us an apology, we should not let that be the focus. Our focus, rather, should be on who we owe apologies to because of what we have done. He further explained that some people may not respond to our sincere apologies, but more often than not, most do later down the road. People need to be at that right emotional place.

Friday, April 16, 2010

There's been quite the brouhaha in my tiny town lately about what constitutes an apology, so I thought I'd share some insights I gleaned while reading Randy Pausch's book, The Last Lecture. (Video of lecture below.)

In the chapter "A Bad Apology is Worse Than No Apology” Pausch writes a “bad apology is worse than no apology” and that when we hurt each other – intentionally or unintentionally, it is like an infection in our relationship. So, no apology would be like letting the infection continue and the Real Apology would be like the antibiotic. The reason a bad apology is worse is because “it is like rubbing salt in the wound.” Examples:

‘I’m sorry you feel hurt by what I have done.’ This type, he states, indicates that you are not really wanting to put medicine on the wound)

‘I apologize for what I did, but you also need to apologize to me for what you’ve done.’ ( You really wanting an apology and not asking for one).

A proper apology, Pausch writes, has three steps:

What I did was wrong.

I feel badly that I hurt you.

How do I make you feel better? ( pg. 162, The last Lecture, by Randy Randy Pausch, 2008)

Pausch made me think of the halfhearted attempts I have made, where I have not been as sincere as I should have been with my apologies. Even more disconcerting is the thought that I may have offended someone without knowing it, for I know at times I can be brusque.

To be responsible and accountable for one's words and actions, to apologize well and to remember to do it when warranted is vital to maintaining strong, sincere, and healthy relationships.

Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In September 2006, Pausch learned that he had terminal pancreatic cancer. He gave an upbeat lecture entitled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon, which became a popular YouTube video and led to other media appearances. He then co-authored a book called The Last Lecture on the same theme, which became a New York Times bestseller. Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg.The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, theolny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghitpclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit aporbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter byistlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

Have a joyful day - RitaVisit my website at http://www.ritaschiano.com

Monday, April 12, 2010

Those folks who know me really well know I am famous for talking back to the television. And lately, I find myself saying, "Don't you newscasters know the meaning of news?"

By definition, "news" means "a report of recent events; previously unknown information."Webster (thankfully) confirms what what I thought....previously unknown information. So, why is it, then, oftentimes the nightly news (11:00 p.m.) is nothing more than a rehash of the Afternoon Report ( 12:00 p.m.) the evening news at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., followed by the morning news (6:00 a.m.).

Okay...I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Man, Rita, you watch way too much news."Guilty. Truth be told, I'm a news junkie. I crave new information. And like most junkies I need my fix. But recycled news is akin to having a drink at lunch, spitting it back in the glass, and drinking it again with dinner, then before going to bed, and once more first thing in the morning.

Would some news director out there kindly explain to me how it is that within an eighteen-hour time frame, only the same 3 or 4 events happened in my state, in the country, in the world? Honestly...nothing else occurred? Nothing? Granted, I'm no math wiz, but isn't that a statistical improbability?

Maybe John Verrilli or Andrew Vrees can explain this to me? Or, since I'm a consumer of news, maybe I should give a shout out to Hank?

Saturday, April 10, 2010

A study by researchers at South Carolina State University found that "paraffin-based candles — the most popular kind — emitted toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene." Most traditional candles are made from paraffin wax which is nothing more than refined crude oil.

Soy candles burn healthy without carcinogens or toxins and they burn longer than petroleum-based wax. Soy candles are soot free—they don’t create smoke or leave black soot behind. And they are environmentally friendly and biodegradable.

I'm fortunate to live near Sturbridge Candle Company. Their candles do not contain harmful dyes and are made from 100% soybean wax. Owner and candlemaker Joyce Stocks creates the most amazing scents too!

If you are in the Sturbridge-Brimfield area, make it a point to stop at the Sturbridge Candle Company (which, by the way, is home to the Green Thumb Florist too). They are located on Route 20 in Brimfield, ab0out 1 mile over the Sturbridge line.

And if you are not in the area, visit their web site, http://www.sturbridgecandle.com/ and have these terrific candles shipped directly to you. Check out their soy soap, too. Smooth and silky on the skin.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Since I first began teaching back in 1978, (Whoa! That even stopped me in my tracks!), I had a great appreciate for those students who chose to go back to school in their later years. I met such a person at Miami University while doing my teaching assistantship. Her name was Barbara, she was 20+ years older than the rest of the students in the class (as well as me).

I think I learned more from Barbara than she did from me, specifically in regards to life lessons. I was awed by her dedication, drive and discipline.

Today I am so grateful to be an adjunct teacher in the One-Day-A-Week Saturday program at Bay Path College. Once again I am surrounded by remarkable women -- women who juggle an intense and rigorous program, as well as full-time jobs and raising children.

If you've been thinking about going back to school, do so. It is never too late. All that is holding you back is you.

"We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves." -- Galileo Galilei

Thursday, April 8, 2010

One of the more memorable lines from the play and movie Steel Magnolias spoken by the character Clairee Beklcher was the following: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Do you know who really wrote those words?

Post your favorite quote from Steel Magnolias. Here's a few more I liked!

Ouiser Boudreaux: I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood 40 years!

Shelby: Well, we went skinny dipping and we did things that frightened the fish.

[about the new mayor's wife dancing]Clairee Belcher: Looks like two pigs fightin' under a blanket.

Monday, April 5, 2010

As many of you know, I have been involved with the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life for several years...first as a team member, later as team captain. This year I joined the Big Dog Bandits team for the Southbridge, MA Relay For Life.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is more than just an event to me. It is personal. In the past two years cancer took the lives of my beloved brother John and my dear friend Lydia -- and during this small window of time, too, several friends and relatives began fighting their own battles with cancer.

Every year the list of people for whom I walk grows larger and larger. But I believe that one day events like Relay For Life will no longer be necessary, and that the folks who had participated over the years gather simply to remember, to memorialize the efforts of years past.

Friday, April 2, 2010

"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire." -- Arnold H. Glasgow

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." -- Albert Schweitzer

Thursday, April 1, 2010

"If you deliberately plan to be less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you'll be deeply unhappy for the rest of your life."-- Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow was born April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York to Russian-Jewish immigrants. His career in psychology ultimately led to his becoming a founder of the Humanistic Psychology movement and the author of such familiar concepts as the hierarchy of needs and self-actualization.

Have a joyful day - RitaVisit my website at http://www.ritaschiano.com

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision." -- Ayn Rand

About Ayn Rand: Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum, Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism.

Rand immigrated to the United States in 1926. She worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood and had a play produced on Broadway. She first achieved fame with her novel The Fountainhead, which was followed by her best-known work, the philosophical novel Atlas Shrugged.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

"If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem." -- Richard Bach

Richard David Bach, born 23 June 1936, is widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970s best-sellers Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, and others. His books espouse his philosophy that our apparent physical limits and mortality are merely appearance.

Monday, March 29, 2010

On March 31, 1596, Rene Descartes was born in La Haye, Touraine, France.His initial interest was legal studies, but Descartes turned instead to mathematics, physics, and philosophy.

The father of modern philosophy, the basic strategy of his philosophical method of doubt was to defeat skepticism on its own ground. Descartes began this by systematically doubting everything he had ever learned, and then accepting as true only that which could not be denied. He recommended the approach in a famous thought:

"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things."

Monday, January 25, 2010

Our pubco, The Reed Edwards Company is celebrating its 3rd year in business. As a thank you to all of your who helped us reached this milestone we are offering a 30% savings on our books when you order direct from us at www.reededwards.com.

We love to hear that you've enjoyed our books and recommend them to others. So why not give someone an inexpensive gift of a good story? You know our motto: Recommend, don't lend! Book sales put dollars in authors pockets and give us the capital to publish more new writers.

And speaking of new writers... As we move into our next year we hope to bring you two, new exciting and compelling authors.(More on them at a later date!)